Erik ten Hag vehemently criticized the “pathetic” backlash aimed at Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes after the midfielder, battling through injury concerns, played a crucial role in setting up his side’s winning goal against Nottingham Forest on Wednesday. Despite facing doubts about his fitness and the risk of missing his first United match due to injury, the 29-year-old played the entire 90 minutes against Forest. Notably, Fernandes provided the assist for Casemiro in the dying moments, securing United’s place in the FA Cup quarter-finals. Post-match, Ten Hag addressed the criticism directed at his captain, particularly scrutinizing Fernandes’ form by some…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
Victor Osimhen, the acclaimed football star, has earned admiration for his generous act of gifting a little boy who not only dressed like him but also mimicked his football skills. The professional footballer bestowed a substantial amount of N2.5 million upon the young boy who sported a mask resembling Osimhen’s own face. A video, shared by popular Instagram blogger Tunde Ednut, showcased the child holding a football, donning a jersey, and wearing a mask as if preparing to play football with friends. In the background, voices could be heard playfully referring to the youngster as Osimhen. Upon seeing the video,…
On Tuesday, Nigerian goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali received a warm welcome at the South African club, Chippa United. Nwabali returned to Chippa United following his standout performances at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, where he earned acclaim for his heroics. Upon arrival at the Port Elizabeth Airport, the 27-year-old was greeted by hundreds of enthusiastic Chippa United fans. Nwabali engaged with the supporters, taking selfies and participating in singing the club’s songs. Chippa United expressed their excitement by posting, “He’s Back @NwabaliBobo” on their social media handle. Nwabali’s notable contributions for Nigeria during the AFCON 2023 finals earned him cash…
Recent reports suggest that Jose Peseiro, who served as the head coach for Nigeria in AFCON 2023, has purportedly accepted the coaching position for another African country in preparation for AFCON 2025. Despite initially expressing a desire to take a break from coaching, Peseiro is said to have agreed to lead Algeria in AFCON 2025 and the World Cup 2026 qualifiers. According to Goal, the Portuguese coach, who no longer has a contract with the Super Eagles of Nigeria, has reportedly finalized terms with the Algerian Football Federation (FAF). Owngoal has reported that Peseiro has formally accepted an offer from…
Zinedine Zidane, the former coach of Real Madrid, has expressed his eagerness to return to coaching. Zidane made this announcement during an event honoring his former Juventus coach, Marcello Lippi, where he emphasized his desire to be back on the training field. While attending the function, Zidane mentioned that he would not hesitate to take on the managerial role for the Italian team if the opportunity presents itself. He stated, “One day coach in Italy? Why not? Anything can happen, but at the moment I am doing something else. I’m sure I’ll go back to the bench; I’d like to…
Lothar Matthäus, a former Ballon d’Or winner, has indicated the club he believes Xabi Alonso will coach in the upcoming season. Despite links to prestigious clubs such as Liverpool, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich, Alonso, the current manager of Bayer Leverkusen, is expected by Matthäus to continue coaching at the BayArena next season. While acknowledging that Alonso may have dreams of coaching at Bayern, Liverpool, or Real Madrid, Matthäus emphasized Alonso’s commitment to Bayer Leverkusen. He stated, “Xabi is not someone who gets carried away by big names; he has celebrated too many successes as a player for that.” Matthäus…
On Wednesday night, Manchester United faced Nottingham Forest at the City Ground in an FA Cup clash, emerging victorious with a narrow 1-0 win sealed by Casemiro’s late header. The gritty performance secured their spot in the FA Cup quarter-finals, and here are four key talking points from the match: 1. Man Utd Win Ugly: Despite allowing Nottingham Forest 16 shots on Andre Onana’s goal, Manchester United ground out the result in a determined and gritty fashion. The scruffy set-piece that decided the contest, with Casemiro nodding in a Bruno Fernandes free-kick, may not have been pretty, but advancing to…
Fans claim to have noticed Sir Alex Ferguson’s reaction to an error by Antony during Manchester United’s FA Cup clash with Nottingham Forest at the City Ground. Sir Alex, who was present alongside INEOS executive Dave Brailsford, appeared to burst into laughter after Antony failed to control a probing pass from Bruno Fernandes in the first half. Although Antony offered a thumbs-up to Fernandes, viewers on X (formerly Twitter) joked, “Even Ferguson is tired of Antony’s nonsense.” Another spectator, less light-hearted, commented, “Ferguson and Brailsford know Antony is a s***.” Antony wasn’t the only Manchester United player struggling in the…
Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk experienced profound disappointment when his transfer to Arsenal collapsed last January. The Gunners had identified the Shakhtar Donetsk player as a potential competitor for Bukayo Saka and Mudryk, showing eagerness for the move, dropped hints through suggestive social media posts. Despite Mudryk’s interest, Chelsea’s co-owner Todd Boehly outbid Arsenal with a substantial financial offer to Shakhtar. Consequently, Mudryk signed with Chelsea for a fee that could eventually reach £88 million. The Athletic reported that Mudryk was deeply upset about the failed transfer to Arsenal. Since joining Chelsea, he has faced the challenge of earning the trust…
Responding to reports of interest from both Nigeria and Germany, Justin Njinmah, the Bundesliga’s 12th fastest player from Hamburg, addressed the speculations. The media in both countries have linked the player to the Super Eagles and Germany, considering his dual eligibility through his father and place of birth. Njinmah, who kickstarted his career with Borussia Dortmund, has become a subject of attention after a standout season at Werder Bremen. While both nations are keeping tabs on him, Germany seems to have an edge in securing his services. At 23 years old, Njinmah has claimed the 12th spot on the list…
Carlo Ancelotti has asserted that he is not obligated to offer Arda Guler an explanation for his limited playing time at Real Madrid. Despite the considerable excitement surrounding Guler’s arrival last summer, the 19-year-old, recovering from knee surgery, has only seen 25 minutes of action in La Liga since his return in January. During the recent victory over Sevilla, it appeared Guler might come off the bench. However, after Luka Modric scored in the 81st minute, Ancelotti opted for Dani Ceballos instead, sending Guler back to the bench. When questioned about this decision, Ancelotti stated he had his reasons and…
Erik ten Hag has responded to Jamie Carragher’s criticism of Manchester United’s tactical approach in their recent defeat to Fulham. Fulham put an end to Manchester United’s four-game winning streak on Saturday by securing a dramatic 2-1 victory at Old Trafford with a 97th-minute winner. Despite being the Red Devils’ first loss in February, it marked their 14th defeat in all competitions throughout the 2023/24 season. This led to concerns about the club’s form, with notable statistics circulating, including the fact that only Sheffield United had conceded more shots than United’s 435 in the Premier League this season. During his…
Manchester City comfortably advanced to the FA Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday night, securing a 6-2 victory over Luton Town at Kenilworth Road, courtesy of an exceptional five-goal performance by striker Erling Haaland. The Cityzens took control of the game with a dominant first-half performance, where Haaland completed a remarkable 41-minute hat-trick, benefiting from three outstanding assists by Kevin De Bruyne. Although Jordan Clark managed to pull two goals back for Luton, offering a glimpse of hope, Haaland swiftly extinguished it by adding another double shortly after the break. Mateo Kovacic then added the finishing touch with a powerful long-range strike,…
Manchester United is strategizing for a summer transfer budget ranging from £150-170m, with a substantial portion anticipated to be generated through player sales, according to sources. Following Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s completion of a minority takeover and his involvement in the January transfer window plan, he is now preparing for his first full window in charge. Notable players not in Erik ten Hag’s plans, such as Jadon Sancho and Donny van de Beek, are set to be made available for transfer. Additionally, players like Antony, signed for £86m from Ajax in 2022, could be offloaded after a challenging period at Old…
Erik ten Hag has confirmed that center-back Harry Maguire will be unavailable for Wednesday’s FA Cup clash with Nottingham Forest. Additionally, doubts surround the participation of Bruno Fernandes and Raphael Varane in the upcoming game. Following a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Fulham in the first match since Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s takeover, Ten Hag is under renewed pressure and seeks a positive response from his team as they face Forest midweek. Already missing key players such as Rasmus Hojlund, Luke Shaw, Lisandro Martinez, Tyrell Malacia, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Mason Mount, and Anthony Martial, Ten Hag included Maguire in the list of absentees.…
Mohamed Salah and Kevin De Bruyne have emerged as primary targets for the Saudi Pro League in the upcoming summer transfer window, as reported by 90min. Following the high-profile acquisition of Cristiano Ronaldo last summer, Saudi dealmakers are once again planning significant moves to entice European football stars to the Middle East. They have identified a pool of nearly 100 potential options, with 20 elite targets. Saudi officials are optimistic about persuading approximately half of these top-tier candidates to make the move, mirroring their approach in the summer of 2023. Salah and De Bruyne stand out at the top of…
This article celebrates the top 5 African football players who have left an enduring impact on the sport, highlighting their exceptional talents and remarkable accomplishments. 1. Nwankwo Kanu (Nigeria): The name “Nwankwo,” meaning “baby born in the market,” paradoxically encapsulates the towering stature of this legendary Nigerian player. Standing at 197 centimeters, Kanu enjoyed an illustrious 18-season career in Europe. Beginning with Ajax, where he won the Champions League, he then moved to Inter before truly shining under Arsene Wenger at Arsenal in the English Premier League. Kanu, twice voted Africa’s best footballer (1996 and 1999), holds the record for…
Manchester City’s manager, Pep Guardiola, acknowledges the formidable challenge posed by Liverpool and Arsenal in the closely contested Premier League title race. Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool currently leads the table with 60 points, with City in second place with 59, and Arsenal closely behind with 58. Guardiola concedes that his team will face a tough task to defend the title, given the relentless performances of Arsenal and Liverpool, who seem determined not to drop points. Speaking to reporters, Guardiola said, “How they [our opponents] are playing, even Aston Villa but especially Arsenal and Liverpool. They are scoring three, four, five goals…
Highlighting the most distinguished central defenders in Premier League history, legends from Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, and both Manchester clubs dominate the list. This compilation recognizes 15 of the greatest defenders in the Premier League, considering criteria such as their impact on the team, club achievements, and the duration of their careers. From iconic figures who dedicated their entire careers to a single club to influential players who made substantial contributions across various teams, this list encompasses a diverse array of individuals who have defined defensive excellence in the Premier League era. 1. John Terry – Chelsea: Synonymous with Chelsea, Terry…
Former Tottenham Hotspur forward Darren Bent has called for the dismissal of the individual responsible for signing Mykhailo Mudryk at Chelsea. Bent’s comments came after the Ukrainian winger failed to make an impact in Chelsea’s recent 1-0 defeat to Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final. Mudryk was substituted in during the closing stages of the match, replacing Nicolas Jackson, but failed to leave a positive impression on Bent. Speaking on talkSPORT, Bent expressed his dissatisfaction, stating, “Whoever gave the green light for the Mudryk transfer for that amount of money deserves to be sacked. He came on and had no…